Spike in whooping cough cases hitting Boulder County kids hardest

Of 68 cases so far this year, 55 are under age of 19

Boulder County is up to 68 confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, so far this year -- and the contagious illness is hitting those who are ages 10 to 19 the hardest.

"We're experiencing a lot of pertussis," said Chana Goussetis, spokeswoman for Boulder County Public Health. "It's looking like a lot of adolescents are getting sick."

Goussetis said the pertussis vaccine starts to become less effective after age 10, with public health officials now recommending a booster shot for children ages 11 to 12.

Of the 68 whooping cough cases this year, nine were infants to 9-year-olds, 46 were 10 to 19 year olds and nine were 40 years old or older.

In the last week, the health department sent a letter to Louisville's Monarch High to pass along to parents, letting them know that at least one student at that school was diagnosed with whooping cough. About a month ago, at least one student at Longmont's Skyline High also was diagnosed with whooping cough.

So far, health department officials said, this year is shaping up to be even worse than last year -- one of the worst years for whooping cough in the state.

By early April last year, Boulder County had confirmed 37 cases of pertussis. The county reported a total of 162 cases in 2012 -- and just 16 cases in 2011.

Statewide this year, as of early April, there were 362 confirmed cases.

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A vaccine is considered the best way to protect against whooping cough, health officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that infants get their first round of the vaccine at two months. The vaccine series is finished before a child turns 6, with a booster at age 11 or 12. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control also began recommending that pregnant women get vaccinated in their third trimester.

Pertussis is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms of pertussis usually develop seven to 10 days after exposure, but can develop from four to 21 days later. In infants and young children, whooping cough can cause hospitalization, seizures, long-term neurological problems and even death.

Symptoms in the first week mimic a cold, including a runny nose and sore throat. In the second week, there's severe coughing that can continue for up to three months. After a coughing fit, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, resulting in a "whooping" sound.

"We would like everyone to watch for these symptoms and go to the doctor right away," Goussetis said. "We want to make sure everyone is up to date on (the) vaccine, especially pregnant women or anyone with infants in the house."